Bristol Rovers legend Ian Holloway has paid tribute to former Gas defender Joe Davis who has passed away age 80.

Davis played more than 200 times for the Gas between 1960 and 1967. After also playing for Swansea Town, he worked as a development coach and scout for the club before working at the Bristol Evening Post.

He was the man that helped discovered several talents for Rovers including Paul Randall, Gary Penrice and Holloway.

Writing exclusively in his weekly Bristol Live column to be published on Friday, Holloway sent his condolences to Joe's family and explained the role he played in him joining the Gas.

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He wrote: "I was saddened to hear this week of the death of former Rovers player, coach and scout Joe Davis at the age of 80.

"Without that lovely man, I may never have followed him in donning the blue and white quarters. I was only nine-years-old when he came to my house and talked to my dad, who he knew, about me.

Former Bristol Rovers man Joe Davis playing in 1964 vs Shrewsbury

"It was the first contact by Rovers. Joe had seen me play in a school match and then a county trial. He reported back to Gordon Bennett, who then also paid my family a visit, and the rest, as they say, is history.

"Joe was the sort of coach you could talk to as a young player and someone who preached a moral standing, which was based on hard work.